Pro Sports

John Dietz's Stanley Cup playoffs predictions

Posted April 09, 2019 1:00 am

John Dietz

The Stanley Cup playoffs are the most unpredictable in sports, but if the Tampa Bay Lightning doesn't win the Stanley Cup, it will be a huge upset, says John Dietz. Associated Press

Eastern Conference

1. Tampa Bay (62-16-4) vs. WC2 Columbus (47-31-4)

Season series: Tampa Bay won all three games by a combined 17-3

Lightning leaders: Nikita Kucherov (41-87-128), Steven Stamkos (45-53-98), Brayden Point (41-51-92)

Lightning goalie: Andrei Vasilevskiy (39-10-4, .925, 2.40)

Blue Jackets leaders: Artemi Panarin (28-59-87), Matt Duchene (31-39-70), Cam Atkinson (41-28-69), Pierre-Luc Dubois (27-34-61)

Blue Jackets goalie: Sergei Bobrovsky (37-24-1, .913, 2.58)

The skinny: The Stanley Cup playoffs are the most unpredictable in sports, but if the Lightning doesn't win the Stanley Cup, it will be a huge upset. This is one of the most complete teams in decades, featuring incredible talent. Watch how everyone passes the puck and has awareness of where their teammates are - and are going to be. Ousting Jon Cooper's squad will take a herculean effort, and Columbus - despite adding Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel - will need a miracle to pull it off.

Prediction: Lightning in 5

Can Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals win it all for the second year in a row? Associated Press

1. Washington (48-26-8) vs. WC1 Carolina (46-29-7)

Season series: Washington won all four meetings

Capitals leaders: Alex Ovechkin (51-38-89), Nicklas Backstrom (22-52-74), Evgeny Kuznetsov (21-51-72), John Carlson (13-57-70)

Capitals goalie: Braden Holtby (32-19-5, .911, 2.82)

Hurricanes leaders: Sebastian Aho (30-53-83), Teuvo Teravainen (21-55-76), Justin Williams (23-30-53)

Hurricanes goalies: Curtis McElhinney (20-11-2, .912, 2.58); Petr Mrazek (23-14-3, .914, 2.39)

The skinny: Everyone knows Alex Ovechkin is a scoring machine, but six of his teammates produced 20-goal seasons, making the defending-champions a force. Carolina is in the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and only the second time since winning the Cup in 2006. It's a young, inexperienced group (former Hawks D-man Trevor Van Riemsdyk is the fourth-oldest skater at 27), and one that will have a tough time matching up in this series.

Prediction: Capitals in 5

Boston Bruins goaltender Jaroslav Halak (41), of Slovakia, and Karson Kuhlman (83) celebrate a win against the Minnesota Wild after an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 4, 2019, in St. Paul, Minn. The Bruins won 3-0. Associated Press

2. Boston (49-24-9) vs. 3. Toronto (46-28-8)

Season series: Boston won three of four

Bruins leaders: Brad Marchand (36-64-100), David Pastrnak (38-43-81), Patrice Bergeron (32-47-79), David Krejci (20-53-73)

Bruins goalie: Tuukka Rask (27-13-5, .912, 2.48), Jaroslav Halak (22-11-4, .922, 2.34)

Maple Leafs leaders: Mitch Marner (26-68-94), John Tavares (47-41-88), Auston Matthews (37-36-73)

Maple Leafs goalies: Frederik Andersen (36-16-7, .917, 2.77)

The skinny: Toronto added defenseman Jake Muzzin to beef up its back end, but the Maple Leafs really struggled down the stretch, going 4-7-3 in their last 14 games. The Bruins are 22-7-2 since February. The Leafs are dangerous but the Bruins are more complete.

Prediction: Bruins in 6

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby, center, celebrates after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers in Pittsburgh, Saturday, April 6, 2019. Associated Press

2. N.Y. Islanders (48-27-7) vs. 3. Pittsburgh (44-26-12)

Season series: Split 2-2, both teams winning once in a shootout

Islanders leaders: Mathew Barzal (18-44-62), Brock Nelson (25-28-53), Anders Lee (28-23-51)

Islanders goalies: Robin Lehner (25-13-5, .930, 2.13); Thomas Greiss (23-14-2, .927, 2.28)

Penguins leaders: Sidney Crosby (35-65-100), Phil Kessel (27-55-82), Jake Guentzel (40-36-76), Evgeni Malkin (21-51-72)

Penguins goalie: Matt Murray (29-14-6,919, 2.69)

The skinny: Coach Barry Trotz is a magician. It's the only way to explain how the Islanders can be No. 1 in goals against one season after finishing dead last. Trotz, who won the Stanley Cup last season with Washington, came to New York and - with almost no personnel changes - transformed the Islanders into a defensive machine. The Islanders posted 10 shutouts (and had a 1-0 shootout loss) and allowed 1 goal 17 times. This is Pittsburgh's 13th straight playoff appearance. This will be a low-scoring, intense series that might go the distance.

Prediction: Penguins in 7

Calgary Flames forward Derek Ryan (10) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, April 1, 2019, in Los Angeles. Flames won 7-2. Associated Press

Western Conference

1. Calgary (50-25-7) vs. WC2 Colorado (38-30-14)

Season series: Flames won all three meetings, one in overtime

Flames leaders: Johnny Gaudreau (36-63-99), Sean Monahan (34-48-82), Elias Lindholm (27-51-78), Matthew Tkachuk (34-43-77), Mark Giordano (17-57-74).

Flames goalies: David Rittich (27-9-5, .911, 2.61); Mike Smith (23-16-2, .898, 2.72).

Avs leaders: Nathan MacKinnon (41-58-99), Mikko Rantanen (31-56-87), Gabriel Landeskog (34-41-75)

Avs goalies: Philipp Grubauer (18-9-5, .917, 2.64); Semyon Varlamov (20-19-9, .909, 2.87)

The skinny: The Flames outscored opponents by 66 goals, the second-best margin behind Tampa Bay's 98. They are loaded with top-end talent and led by Johnny Gaudreau, who had 23 goals and 31 assists over a 31-game stretch in the middle of the season. Colorado, which finished 8-1-2 to stave off Arizona for the final wild-card spot, also sports plenty of firepower. Calgary is a legit Stanley Cup contender and will put away the pesky Avs.

Prediction: Flames in 6

Dallas Stars' Roope Hintz (24), Jamie Benn (14), Alexander Radulov (47), and John Klingberg (3) celebrate a third-period goal by center Tyler Seguin (91) in an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Saturday, April 6, 2019, in Dallas. Associated Press

1. Nashville (47-29-6) vs. WC1 Dallas (43-32-7)

Season series: Nashville won three of five, two in overtime

Predators leaders: Ryan Johansen (14-50-64); Roman Josi (15-41-56); Filip Forsberg (28-22-60 in 64GP), Viktor Arvidsson (34-14-48 in 58 GP)

Preds goalie: Pekka Rinne (30-19-4; .918, 2.42)

Stars leaders: Tyler Seguin (33-47-80); Alexander Radulov (29-43-72), Jamie Benn (27-26-53)

Stars goalie: Ben Bishop (27-15-2, .934, 1.98)

The skinny: Nashville stumbled on occasion, but was 13-7-1 in its last 21 games to claim a second straight Central Division title. It is going up against perhaps the hottest goalie in the league in Ben Bishop, who is 12-3-0 with a .960 save percentage and 1.20 goals-against average since Jan. 19. Bishop did miss time with a lower-body injury in late March. His health is obviously key to a potential Dallas upset, which is completely plausible.

Prediction: Stars in 7

St. Louis Blues' Alexander Steen (20) is congratulated by Robby Fabbri (15) and Robert Bortuzzo (41) after his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 4, 2019, in St. Louis. Associated Press

2. Winnipeg (47-30-5) vs. 3. St. Louis (45-28-9)

Season series: Winnipeg won three of four, one in overtime

Jets leaders: Blake Wheeler (20-71-91), Mark Scheifele (38-46-84), Kyle Connor (34-32-66), Patrik Laine (30-20-50)

Jets goalie: Connor Hellebuyck (34-23-3, .913, 2.90)

Blues leaders: Ryan O'Reilly (28-48-76), Vladimir Tarasenko (33-35-68), Brayden Schenn (17-38-55)

Blues goalie: Jordan Binnington (24-5-1, .927, 1.89)

The skinny: The Blues were a train wreck in mid-November, going 7-8-3 in the first 18 games, so they fired coach Mike Yeo and promoted former Chicago Wolves coach Craig Berube. All Berube did was nearly lead St. Louis to a division title by going 38-19-6. He rode goalie Jordan Binnington much of the way, and it will be interesting to see how the 25-year-old rookie fares under playoff pressure. Winnipeg is one of the best teams top to bottom in the West, but the Jets went just 3-5-1 down the stretch. If the Blues can split the first two games, watch out.

Prediction: Blues in 6

San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (88) is congratulated by center Tomas Hertl (48) and left wing Evander Kane (9) after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, April 6, 2019. Associated Press

2. San Jose (46-27-9) vs. 3. Vegas (43-32-7)

Season series: Split 2-2, with San Jose winning one in overtime

Sharks leaders: Brent Burns (16-67-83), Tomas Hertl (35-39-74), Logan Couture (27-43-70), Joe Pavelski (38-26-64)

Sharks goalie: Martin Jones (36-19-55, .896, 2.94)

Golden Knights leaders: Jon Marchessault (25-34-59), William Karlsson (24-32-56), Reilly Smith (19-34-53)

Golden Knights goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (35-21-5, .913, 2.51)

The skinny: No playoff teams are struggling more than San Jose (3-8-1 last 12) and Vegas (1-5-2 last eight). So who rights the ship? The Sharks have what it takes to advance with playoff tested veterans like Brent Burns (74 postseason games), Tomas Hertl (43), Logan Couture (96) and Joe Pavelski (121). They all know how to play with an in-your-face style that frustrates many teams. Vegas isn't the powerhouse it was in its first season, but still plays an unselfish style that allows it to win, even when everything isn't going right. The Golden Knights have Marc-Andre Fleury in net, a three-time Stanley Cup champion.

Prediction: Sharks in 6

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